The U. S. Latino/Hispanic population has been steadily increasing and is projected to reach around 66.66 million in 2025. It is a culture that encompasses an incredible array of diverse identities, and this is why the Latino Fiesta will be showcased at the 47th International Folk Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27, from noon to 7 p.m. in downtown Festival Park. The Parade of Nations starts at 10 am, and the Latino Fiesta begins at noon.
“The purpose of the event is to bring all different cultures to the city of Fayetteville and to showcase every country that we can possibly think of,” said Claudia Zamora, manager of the SI Spanish Immersion Institute and El Centro Hispano, Inc., and Community Coordinator for El Centro Hispano, Inc. “We have been working with the Hispanic community for over three years in Fayetteville, and this year we partnered with the Arts Council and helped organize the showcasing of the various cultures.”
The festival will feature a parade, artists, performers, dancers, food trucks serving authentic dishes from each country, cultural pieces from various countries, entrepreneurs showcasing their products, a kids' area, and more.
“People need to become more aware of their neighbors because there is a huge Hispanic community in Cumberland County,” said Zamora. “We will have Mexican taco trucks, empanadas, various desserts and pastries, arepas from Venezuela, Colombia and more.”
The Latino Fiesta will have an entrance on the side of Festival Park.
“There are 3 stages, and there will be a stage for the Latino showcase,” said Zamora. “Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the Salsa dancers, Mexican dancers, Colombian performers, Nicaraguan performers and others who will display their beautiful costumes, colors and different folk dances.”
As for the number of countries that represent Latino culture, there are quite a few.
“The Latino culture consists of 23 countries and we are very different from one another,” said Zamora. “We all speak Spanish, but there are also some tribes that speak other dialects and languages.”
Zamora added, “There are a lot of things that we don’t know about each of the countries, so this is why this event is going to be amazing because we are going to find out more about each of these countries and what they are connected to.”
National Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and it recognizes the contributions of Hispanic communities in the United States. The largest Hispanic populations are found in Texas, California, Florida and New York.
“We want to celebrate our month, our heritage, and celebrate it with pride to let people know about all of our different countries,” said Zamora.
In the Latino culture, instilling respect for elders is a common value within the family.
“We are very much family-oriented, and it is very important that events call for everybody, including kids and the older generation,” said Zamora. “Latino families are very respectful of our seniors, so one of the customs is on Sundays, we go and take care of our seniors and have a meal with them.”
A misconception that Zamora would like to clear about the Latino culture is that they are often mistaken to be uninterested or not involved in the community, and this is far from the truth. They want to be involved, but oftentimes lack the language skills needed in order to interact with others. “We have to try to interact more, so we won’t have those language barriers,” said Zamora.
The event serves as a catalyst for valuing diverse cultures, gaining a global perspective and creating a more inclusive society.
“This is a great event that promotes interaction and unity within the community, and shows that we have different ways of celebrating,” said Zamora. “We want people to come out, have fun, support the whole event and be a part of the community.”
The event is free and open to the public. Parking is $5.00. For more information or to participate in the event, visit www.wearethearts.com or www.elcentronc.org.